Celebrating the life of Robert Roland Mendonca

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Obituary for Robert Roland Mendonca

Robert (Bob) Mendonca was born March 21, 1931 in the territory islands of Hawaii. He was a 10 year-old Honolulu native when Pearl Harbor was bombed, and these formative years influenced his life’s path. A graduate of the 1948 class of St. Louis High School in Honolulu, Bob stayed connected with his high school classmates, and was fortunate enough to attend several reunions.

Following in the footsteps of his “swashbuckling “fly boy” uncle, Bob joined the US Air Force in 1950, and become a pilot himself. He completed pilot training in 1952 and flew B26’s in Korea and Japan. In 1956, his Bomb Wing transitioned from B26’s through B57’s and into B66’s. He was squadron commander in Vietnam, where the squadron flew the B66’s.

Bob attended the University of Maryland, The Air War College (Maxwell AFB), and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 1961 from University of Omaha (presently, University of Nebraska at Omaha) in the Boot Strap Program. In July 1971, he earned a graduate certificate in Technology of Management (Management Information Systems) from American University.

In his later military career, he was Director of J63 CINCPAC (Camp Smith, HI) and Vice Commander of the Air Force Data Systems Design Center in Montgomery, AL. He returned to the Pentagon as a Deputy Director to the Air Staff (Policy and Acquisition), then became Director of Integration and Technology, ACS Information Systems. He retired as a Colonel after thirty-four years of military service.

Bob’s passions included, travel! Wherever he was, Bob had a map, a plan, and a vision of what the perfect vacation would be - even if the travel plans never went further than the armchair from which he sat while dreaming of these travels.

He was an avid supporter of AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) holding many positions, starting with coach and was eventually elected to serve on the National Board. He helped found AYSO soccer regions on Hickam AFB, in Honolulu, and Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Alabama. He actively established other AYSO regions as well.

A born organizer, Bob was a founding member of three community organizations that are still in operation today: East Foster Village Community Association (Aiea, Hawai’i), Oak Grove Community Association (Vienna, Va.) and County Downs Homeowners Association (Montgomery, Alabama).

He was preceded in death by his parents, Manuel and Macline Mendonca and his sister Rosemary Cook.

He is survived by his wife, of 58 years, Julia, and their five children: Margaret, Laurie (aka Pua), Douglas (Kriszti), Mary (Bill Trawick), and Phillip (Melanie), and eight grandchildren: Lopaka and Kawika, Maya and Ian, Madeline and Adam, and Leila and Izabella, and his sister Shirley Friar.

Bob died peacefully in Anchorage, AK on January 23, 2017 with his wife, Julia, and daughter, Mary, by his side following complications from a stroke. He and Julia had moved to Anchorage in 2011, to be near Mary and her family. All those who knew Bob are quick to describe his easy smile that accompanied the sparkle in his eye. Witty, thoughtful and always able to see both sides of a story, he was a steadfast presence in lives of his children and grandchildren. We are immensely grateful to have had him in our lives for so long. While he will be dearly missed, we faithfully believe he is watching over us, and we look forward to when we will all be together again.

His ashes will be interred at the National Cemetery in Montevallo, AL this summer – date to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) in memory of Robert.

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